Door closer mechanism

ABSTRACT

886,924. Door operating appliances. RIXSON CO., OSCAR C. June 5, 1959 [Dec. 19, 1958], No. 19284/59. Class 65(1). A door checking and closing mechanism comprises a frame structure 1 (Fig. 2) for attachment to the top of a door 4, a check cylinder 3 fixed within the frame structure and provided with a piston assembly 6 connected to a spindle 57 having a gear connection with a rack 56 so that it moves longitudinally relative to the frame and cylinder when rotated, and an operating arm 87 fixed to the spindle for slidable engagement with the lintel, the movement of the piston assembly when the door is opened being resisted by a doorclosing spring 17 The embodiment illustrated comprises two identical piston, cylinder and spring assemblies. Each piston 13 has a connecting rod 15 which extends through an annular seal 43 at the end of the cylinder 3 and an aperture in a plate 49 and is pivotally connected by a pin 68.1 to a clevis 67 pivotally attached by a pin 68 to a yoke bar 65 (Fig. 14) carried by pair of travelling carriages 60 in which the spindle 57 is mounted. The plate 49 forms one of two similar ends of a fixed frame for the travelling spindle assembly, the frame also comprising two U-shaped side rails 47 (Fig. 13) and longitudinal support members 51 all of which are formed with identical openings 53 to accommodate movement of the spindle. The rack 56 comprises a plurality of similar laminations, the rails 47, support members 51 and rack laminations being secured together by rivets 58, 58.1, and all having end lugs which extend through and are anchored to, the end plates 49. Each travelling carriage 60 comprises a plurality of. identical laminations and is guided within one of the U-shaped side rails 47, a needle or like anti-friction bearing 61 being located/between each carriage and the base of the U. The operating arm 87 is keyed to the upper end of the spindle 57 and carries a guide roller 89 at its other end which slides longitudinally in a guide rail 91 on the lintel when the door is opened or closed. The frame structure 1 of the closer comprises two similar longitudinal sections 1.1, 1.2 (Fig. 13), made narrow by incorporating the fixed frame for the travelling spindle assembly into the side walls of the sections, and is mortised or surface mounted at the head of the door. To obtain correct operation of the closer it must be mounted with the teeth of the rack pointing away from the direction of the door opening movement, and to facilitate this it can be attached either in the position shown or in an inverted position, the operating arm 87 being then keyed to the opposite end of thai spindle. Door checks. The check cylinders 3 are identical and are hydraulically linked -by passages 77 (Fig. 2) to, co-ordinate their action. During the door opening stroke fluid flows from, left to right of each piston 13 through a valve 25 (Fig. 17), additional fluid being drawn from a reservoir 7 to compensate for the displacement of the piston rod 15. Each reservoir is provided with a closed resilient cap 70 (Fig. 11a) which collapses as the fluid is drawn out, the cap being bonded to the reservoir and provided with a stiffening member 73. It is stated that the cap may alternatively be made of metal. During the check stroke fluid from in front of the piston flows initially through a passage 79 and valve 83 into the reservoir 7 and thence into the cylinder behind the piston through a passage 75. As the door approaches the latching position a bevelled portion 29 of the piston gradually covers the passage 79 and diminishes the rate of fluid flow, and immediately before this passage is completely covered the rear portion of the piston exposes the outlet port 82 of a passage 81 controlled by a valve 85 and communicating with the space in front of the piston to allow a rapid final closing movement. Each cylinder is provided with a pair of valves 83, 85, the pair which are uppermost and accessible when the closer is attached to the door being used for adjustment, the other pair having been fully closed before attachment. Stays. The roller 89 on the operating arm 87 is spool-shaped and co-operates with a resilient guide bar 95 (Fig. 7) extending along one side wall of an elongated rectangular housing 91 mortised in, or surface mounted on, the lintel. The roller is maintained in engagement with the guide bar by a guide rod 97, which is mounted in apertures in the ends of the housing 91 and carries a stop 113 (Fig. 8), preferably made of metal, which has a concave portion 117 to seat the roller. The stop also has a projecting lug 119 which cooperates with one of a series of holes 99 in the side wall of the housing 91 opposite the guide bar 95 and locates the stop in the housing. When the door reaches a predetermined open position the roller engages the stop, and is held in engagement therewith by the resilience of the material of the bar 95 to hold the door open.

June 9, 1964 D. H. ELLIS DOOR CLOSER MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Dec.

ATT 'YS INVENTOR: DAVID H. ELLIS June 9, 1964 D. H. ELLIS DOOR CLOSER MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Dec.

FIG?

INVENTOR. DAVID H. ELLIS 4;

A 3,135,991 Patented June 9, 1964 3,135,991 DODR CLOSER MECHANISM David H. Ellis, West Chicago, IlL, assignor to Rixson Inc., a corporation of Illinois Original application Dec. 19, 1958, Ser. No. 781,565, now

Patent No. 3,040,372, dated June 26, 1962. Divided and this application June 14, 1962, Ser. No. 202,446

9 Claims. (Cl. 16-62) This invention relates to door checks and closers of the single-arm type which may be either mortised into or surface mounted on the upper portion of a door, and which are adapted to be connected to a doorway head jamb by an operating arm arranged to slide in a guide rail on the head jamb to operate the closer mechanism for storing energy upon door opening movement and subsequently utilizing the stored energy for automatic door closing movement.

This application is a division of my co-pending application, Serial No. 781,565, filed December 19, 1958, now Patent No. 3,040,372, issued June 26, 1962 for Door Closer Mechanism.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a door closer mechanism which can be completely housed within the head jamb portion of a door casing and within the top rail or edge of a door, the mechanism being characterized by a single arm having translative movement in the door jamb and secured at its other end to a spindle mounted gear rotating translatively with respect to a rack concealed within the door rail, the said spindle being connected to an energy storing device for door return or closing movement.

Another object is to provide a door closer mechanism having an improved mechanical unit construction for operative connection with an enclosed hydraulically controlled energy storing device for door closing operation.

Yet another object is to provide a door closer mechanism of the aforesaid single-arm type wherein force translation is accomplished by an improved traveling spindle mechanism.

Still further objects are to provide a traveling spindle mounted gear and rack structure characterized by the rack being formed in or as part of a lamina structure comprised of punched, rather than milled, laminations; to provide a bearing and rack structure for a carriage mounted spindle, both the rack and carriage being made from laminar elements which are simple to fabricate and assemble; and to provide an improved sub-assembly construction embodying a traveling spindle mechanism for use in door closer mechanisms.

A specific embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view, partly fragmentary, of a preferred form of the invention shown mortised in the top edgeportion of a door;

FIG. 2 is a view, partly in section, taken substanitally on the plane of line 22 of FIG. 1 the near frame member being removed to show the mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a detail sectional view of the traveling spindle assembly, taken substantially on the plane of the line 3-3 of FIG. 2, showing the form of the spindle carriage and its bearing support;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the traveling spindle assembly looking in the direction of the arrows 4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a detail sectional view of the traveling spindle assembly, takensubstantially along line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the traveling spindle assembly taken on the plane of the line 66 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing details of the yoke for attachment of the traveling spindle to the energy storing device.

Referring now to the drawings, improved door closer mechanism according to the present invention is denoted by the reference numeral 10 and is shown situate in an upper jamb member 11 of a door frame 12 and an upper rail or edge 13 of a door 14 hung on butts 16. The head jamb 11 is recessed to receive a guide rail frame 17 held therein by screws 18; and frame 17 has a pair of spaced longitudinally extending guide rails 19 and 21, for a roller 22 mounted on stub shaft 23 extending from an operating arm 24. A spindle 26 is fast to the other end of the operating arm 24 and is adapted to have both rotative and translative movement within the closer mechanism upon opening movement of the door 14 to store energy which is controllably released for effecting the closing of the door 14.

Spindle 26 is part of an operating sub-assembly connected to a separate mechanism for storing the energy for the closing or return movement of the door 14, this combination comprising a door closer assembly housed within a casing 27 supported within a recess 28 in the door rail 13. As shown, the casing 27 has flanges 29 held by screws 31 to the rail 13.

The sub-assembly for supporting the spindle 26 is mounted between two frame members 32 and 33, disposed in confronting relationship, see FIG. 5. These frame members are complementary halves of an inner housing for the closer mechanism and when bolted together, in face to face relation, provide a unitary assembly which in turn is held to the casing 27 by means of hollow liner pins 34 and screws 36 tapped into the end walls 37 of the frame members 32 and 33, liner pins 34 being received in complementary holes 38 in the end walls of the casing 27.

The housing formed by the two confronting frame members 32 and 33 is adapted to form a common support for separate mechanical and hydraulic sections of the closer mechanism and as shown the hydraulic section comprises a pair of side by side cylinders 39 each having a fixed cylinder head 41. A groove 42 in each cylinder head 41 receives an O-ring seal 43, to prevent the escape of fluid from the cylinder 39. Each cylinder 39 is provided with a movable piston 44 which is secured to a respective piston rod 46, each piston rod 46 extending from its cylinder and into an opening 45 in an end frame member 47 of the mechanical section which comprises the sub-assembly of the present invention. A suitable seal 48 is provided for each piston rod 46 as it leaves the respective cylinder 39, and a compression spring 49 is constrained within each cylinder 39 between a thrust washer 51, at the seal 48, and a shoulder 52 formed on the piston rod 46 adjacent the piston 44. Details of construction of the cylinders 39 and the piston and spring structure comprising the spring closing unit or hydraulic section of the closer are to be found in my aforementioned co-pending application.

As herein shown, the traveling spindle assembly of my present invention is comprised generally of a frame portion, a rack constituting part of the frame, the spindle 26 having a gear connection with the rack, two traveling carriage devices, and a yoke and clevis assembly for connecting the spindle assembly to the spring closing unit.

As shown in FIGURES 2 and 5 the frame portion of the traveling spindle assembly is comprised of two generally U-shaped side rails 53, substantially identical end portions 47 and 50, and longitudinal intermediate support members 54. The U-shaped side rails 53 may be stamped out of metal and are provided with substantially identical openings 55 in each leg to accommodate the movement of the spindle and yoke as will be described. Each side rail has end lugs 56, see FIGURE 4, two extending longitudinally from the ends of each leg for connection with the respective end portions 47 and 50. The end portions 47 and 50 are each comprised of a plurality of laminations of identically shaped stamped pieces of metal, formed as shown in FIGURE 4, suitably punched to receive the securing lugs 56 from the side rails and similar lugs 57 and 58 from the rack and the transverse support members respectively. These lugs may be peened over the outer surfaces of the end portions 47 and 50 to provide a rigid unitary structure.

The support members 54 are also stamped out of metal and are formed with openings 59 to accommodate the movement of the spindle, yoke and clevis, these openings being similar in shape to those formed in the legs of the side rails 53 previously described.

The rack 61 is likewise formed of a plurality of laminations of identically shaped stamped pieces of metal which are securely held within the frame by means of the end lugs 57 extending through the end plates 47 and 50. The laminations are further secured together by a rivet member 61 which extends across the entire sub-assembly adjacent one end, including the side rails 53, and by rivet 62 which secures together the opposite ends of the rack laminations. As shown in FIGS. 4 and the laminations comprising the rack 69 are arranged in three groups separated by the support members 54 and all are tied together in a unitary stack by the rivets 61 and 62.

The spindle 26 is combined with a gear 63 meshed with the rack 60 and arranged to travel therealong. The spindle is also fast to the gear 63 and hence is in driving relation with the rack so that rotation of the spindle will cause it to travel along the rack or, conversely, movement of the spindle lengthwise of the rack will cause it to rotate. In the form shown the gear 63 has three sections, one for each section of the rack 69, spaced by shoulders or collars to accommodate the support members 54. Also the spindle 26 extends beyond each of the side rails 53 of the sub-assembly frame and is restrained from axial movement by washers 64 located between the side rails and shoulders 65 on the gear.

The traveling carriage members 66 are best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, and as shown are formed of a plurality of laminations of identically shaped stamped pieces of metal which may be held together in any conventional manner such as, for example, rivets 67. A circular opening in each carriage member, preferably lined with a bearing means, such as a roller or needle bearing 68, is provided for receiving the spindle 26 which rotates therein. A traveling carriage unit is located within each of the U-shaped rails 53 on either side of the sub-assembly frame, these rails being so shaped to act as guides for the movement of the carriages with the traveling spindle 26. In the preferred embodiment, a ladder type needle or roller bearing unit 69 is located between each of the carriages and the base portions of the U-shaped guide rails 53, on the side of the pinion gear 63 opposite the rack 60, to reduce the friction within the guide rails.

Each carriage member is further provided with an opening 70 for receiving the ends of a yoke bar 71 which is spaced from the gear and extends between the carriage members 66 for movement therewith. A clevis 72 is pivotally attached to the yoke bar 71 by a pin 73 and is formed with laterally disposed fingers 74 for pivotal attachment to the ends of the two connecting rods 46 by pins 75, as shown in FIG. 7, in order to compel movement of the pistons with the spindle when the spindle assembly is connected thereto as shown in FIG. 2.

The sub-assembly unit herein described comprises the mechanical end or power transmission portion of a door closer mechanism and combines a rack and pinion structure with a sliding pinion support means, on which the pinion spindle is journaled, in such a manner that the stationary elements when connected together across their ends constitute a frame or housing within which the movable elements operate and are retained. The structure of the unit is thus extremely simple and rugged and one which, aside from the pinion spindle and bearing, can be made entirely from simple metal stampings.

It will now be seen that with this improved mechanicalend sub-assembly, and because of its sealed-01f relation with the hydraulioend of the closer unit, the entire subassembly can be incorporated into the side wall of the closer mechanism housing so that the rack 60 can be substantially coincident with the wall and for practical purposes a part thereof, as shown in FIG. 5. This means that the rack will occupy a minimum of the space between the side walls 3233 of the housing and a maximum of space will be available for the pinion gear 63 and the sliding carriages 66.

This factor is particularly important in a closer of the present type where, for power advantage, a maximum size of spindle gear is desired and yet the available space is so limited.

The details of the hydraulic and spring mechanism contained within the cylinders 39 are best shown in my (:0- pending application previously referred to, and the precise details of operation are not important herein except that it may be stated that when the door 14 is opened, as seen in FIG. 1, the roller 22 on the operating arm 24 is confined to slide between its guideways 19 and 21, thus causing swinging of the arm 24 and turning of the spindle 26. This turning of the spindle 26 causes the associated pinion 63 fast thereon to travel with respect with the racks 60, and to thereby cause the spindle and its carriages 66 to move to the left against the force of the springs 49 contained within the cylinders 39.

As disclosed in my aforementioned application, the cylinders 39 are filled with hydraulic fluid which is free to move past the pistons 44 during the door opening movement, the springs 49 storing energy for the return movement of the door 14 which is controlled in its closing movement by suitable valving mechanism controlling the return of the fluid to the piston rod side of piston 44.

The invention herein is directed to the provision of the structure comprising the traveling spindle moving on a fixed rack for achieving the storage and more efiicient transmission of energy for the return or closing movement of the door, the spindle and its rack cooperating with a single door operating arm, which is movable along a guide rail in the head jamb and entirely concealed when door 14 is closed.

The invention herein also includes the provision of a laminar carriage structure for guiding the spindle in its movement on the rack and the rack is characterized by a similar laminar construction, the elements in each case being formed from simple stampings rather than by expensive milling operations.

Each of the carriage members 66 is also free to move along its respective guideway 53 without binding by reason of the ladder type needle bearing structure 69 on which the carriages slide, the bearing 69 being designed to absorb the thrust incident to the movement of the spindle upon rotating engagement of its pinion with the teeth of the rack 60.

The main advantages of this invention reside in the simple and low cost construction of the spindle assembly; in the fact that the improved spindle assembly can be prefabricated as a complete mechanical end unit for a door closer mechanism; and in the structural arrangement of the spindle assembly whereby the rack constitutes a part of the housing wall so as to permit a maximum diameter for the spindle gear.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described it will be understood that details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a door closing mechanism having a spring closing unit, a traveling spindle sub-assembly comprising a frame portion mounted in fixed position within said closing unit,

ans

a rack fixed on said frame portion, a spindle havinga gear connection with said rack and projecting from said closing unit for fixed connection with an operating arm whereby said spindle will be rotated and thereby moved longitudinally of said rack when said door is opened, and means connected with said spindle and movable therewith for actuating the spring closing unit in response to said longitudinal movement.

2. In a door closing mechanism having a spring closing unit, a traveling spindle sub-assembly comprising a frame portion mounted in fixed position within said closing unit, a rack fixed on said frame portion, a spindle having a gear thereon meshed with said rack, an arm fixed to said spindle for connection with a door frame whereby said spindle and gear will be rotated when said mechanism is operated by the opening of a door, the rotation of said gear on said rack causing translatory movement of the spindle longitudinally of said rack and said frame, longitudinal guiding means on said frame, a traveling carriage mechanism for supporting said spindle and mounted Within said guiding means for longitudinal movement relative to said frame, and means connected to said carriage mechanism for tensioning the spring closing unit in response to said longitudinal movement.

3. In a door closing mechanism having a spring closing unit, a traveling spindle sub-assembly comprising a frame portion, a rack fixed on said frame portion, a spindle having a gear connection with said rack, an arm fixed to said spindle and having a connection whereby said spindle and gear will be rotated and moved longitudinally in said rack when said mechanism is operated in response to opening of a door, longitudinal guiding means on said frame, a traveling carriage mechanism mounted for longitudinal movement in said guiding means and adapted to receive said spindle rotatively for longitudinal movement therewith, and means connected to said carriage mechanism for tensioning the spring closing unit in response to said longitudinal movement.

4. In a door closing mechanism having a spring closing unit, a traveling spindle sub-assembly comprising a frame portion fixed within said closing unit, a rack fixed on said frame portion, a spindle having a gear connection with said rack, an arm fixed to said spindle and gear having a connection whereby said spindle and gear will be rotated and moved longitudinally on said rack when said mechanism is operated by the opening of a door, two longitudinally extending substantially U-shaped guide members comprising the sides of said frame portion, a traveling carriage mechanism mounted within each of said U-shaped guide members for longitudinal movement with said spin dle, said spindle being journaled on and extending between said carriage mechanisms, a yoke member extending between said carriage mechanisms and adapted to be moved thereby, and a clevis pivotally mounted on said yoke member and connected to said spring closing unit.

5. In a door closing mechanism having energy storing means for closing a door after opening movement thereof, a traveling spindle assembly comprising a fixed frame having a rack extending along one side thereof, a slidable carriage mounted in said frame for movement longitudinally of said rack, a spindle journaled on said carriage transversely of said rack and having a pinion in driving engagement with said rack, and means for providing a driving connection between said slidable carriage and said energy storing means.

6. The spindle assembly defined in claim 5 wherein a slidable carriage is mounted in the frame on each side of the rack, the spindle is journaled on and extends between the cariages, and the means for providing driving connection with the energy storing means is a yoke attached to and extending between the said cariages.

7. The spindle assembly defined in claim 6 wherein each of the slidable carriages is mounted in a guide means extending parallel with the said rack, and each carriage is provided with bearing means acting between the carriage and the guide means from the side of the frame opposite said rack,

8. The spindle assembly defined in claim 6 wherein the spindle extends through each carriage and projects laterally from the frame, the frame having opening slots extending parallel with the rack for passage of the spindle to the exterior of the frame.

9. In a door closing mechanism having energy storing means for closing a door after opening movement thereof, a traveling spindle assembly comprising a fixed frame, a plurality of laminar members supported in stacked relation along one side of said frame and defining an inwardly facing rack means, a plurality of laminar members secured together in stacked relation and defining a movable carriage, means in said frame for guiding said carriage longitudinally of said rack means, a rotatable spindle journaled in said carriage and including pinion means fixed on the spindle and in driving relation with said rack means for moving said carriage longitudinally with respect to said rack and said frame upon rotation of the spindle in one direction, and means for providing a driving connection between said carriage and said energy storing means for energizing the same when said spindle is rotated in said one direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 663,844 Ashley Dec. 18, 1900 1,519,584 Kreipke Dec. 16, 1924 1,639,501 Hensley Aug. 16, 1927 2,460,369 Stronach Feb. 1, 1949 2,709,848 Chatfield June 7, 1955 3,040,372 Ellis June 26, 1962 

1. IN A DOOR CLOSING MECHANISM HAVING A SPRING CLOSING UNIT, A TRAVELING SPINDLE SUB-ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A FRAME PORTION MOUNTED IN FIXED POSITION WITHIN SAID CLOSING UNIT, A RACK FIXED ON SAID FRAME PORTION, A SPINDLE HAVING A GEAR CONNECTION WITH SAID RACK AND PROJECTING FROM SAID CLOSING UNIT FOR FIXED CONNECTION WITH AN OPERATING ARM WHERE- 